If you want to get ahead of the game of Netflix’s latest Young Adult book-to-movie adaptation, then you’re going to want to park a seat and listen to your next great book obsession.
Sorta Like a Rock Star tells the story of teenager Amber Appleton, who lives in her mom’s old school bus after mom’s boyfriend kicked them out of the the house. But despite the unfortunate circumstances, Amber manages to maintain her hopeful and optimistic mindset. That is, until tragedy strikes and threatens the very existence of Amber’s optimism — her ability to be a rock star of hope.
Sorta Like a Rock Star is penned by The Silver Linings Playbook author Matthew Quick, who shifts to the YA genre for an unconventional story that will leave you thinking about it long after you’ve put it down.
Here are 5 reasons why you should read Sorta Like a Rock Star:
1. It’s not your typical YA book
Too often, Young Adult books feel over-saturated with recycled plots and stories that lack innovation. But Sorta Like a Rock Star is a book that branches out beyond the conventional YA genre that gravitates towards what is safe and expected. Sorta Like a Rock Star is a book that stands out among the YA genre with a story as heartbreaking as it is inspiring. If you’re in the mood for something different — for something outside the box — then this is the perfect book for you.
2. It takes you on an emotional journey
It’s difficult to put into words just how beautiful a story this book was. It’s a realist — life isn’t perfect, it’s not fair and most of the time you’re not always happy. But Sorta Like a Rockstar preaches powerful messages about having hope, faith and living your life — through everything thrown your way, the good, the bad, and the unfair. Typically, some YA books are jaded in terms of the world around them, which isn’t the case with Sorta Like a Rockstar. In fact, embraces the hardships of life and the importance of moving on and living your life in spite of it all. It’s an emotional whirlwind of a journey that’s sure to leave you thinking about the story long after you’ve finished reading it.
3. The characters are brilliantly unique
When it comes to any sort of story, if I’m not invested in the characters, I don’t care. And when I don’t care, I stop reading. Which is to say that Sorta Like a Rock Star managed to assemble a diverse group of characters, led by a strong protagonist in the hopeful and sometimes improper Amber, as well as her dog Bobby Big Boy, and Private Jackson, a Vietnam veteran that deals with PTSD from the war by writing inspiring haikus and drinking — green tea, that is. There’s so much to love about Sorta Like a Rock Star, which comes through in its amazing cast of characters.
4. Amber isn’t perfect, and that’s great
A story is only as strong as its characters, essentially its lead protagonist. Which doesn’t mean that they need to be perfect. They don’t. In fact, they shouldn’t be. No one wants to read a story with a protagonist that comes off as too prim and proper and unrelatable. The great thing about Amber, is that she’s not portrayed as perfect. She’s relatable in every way — from the way she swears and lashes out to the angry, emotional teenager that we all remember ourselves as long ago. But despite her flaws, which are brilliant, she’s someone that thrives on hope. And you see that through her interactions with some other characters, where her good heart shines through. Amber’s hope is something that you feel comes through the pages — not only for herself but for those around her, which makes her a character worth rooting for.
5. It’s got a Silver Linings Playbook vibe
It’s impossible to deny the similarities between author Matthew Quick’s Sorta Like a Rock Star and his other bestseller, The Silver Linings Playbook. And it’s a delightful twist where this time it’s a messed up teenage girl that’s clinging to the hope and optimism not typically afforded the world. That is, until her optimism is tested by a tragedy that strikes her life. Life sucks, and it’s hard. But it’s all about how you choose to approach life — whether you’re someone that’s experienced a ton of hardship or hardly any at all. But when comparing Sorta Like a Rock Star and The Silver Linings Playbook, it’s more than the vibe, it’s also the bizarre competition, which takes place at a senior citizen home. It’s little nuggets like that which make this a delightful read. If you’re a fan of The Silver Linings Playbook, then you’re going to want to check out Quick’s other book Sorta Like a Rock Star.
